DARRELL CLARKE ON RECRUITMENT

Darrell Clarke has confirmed that he is hoping to bring in his first new signing at the end of the week.

The manager has been working hard behind the scenes, talking to players and agents to try and make sure he brings the right players to the club.

He said: “I am looking to bring players in, and I have been looking to do that since the last day of the season.

“I have been speaking to a lot of players, meeting a lot of players, speaking to agents and doing my background work.

“I said all along I wouldn’t be rushing in to signings, but I am hoping to have a signing in at the end of this week, possibly early next week at the latest.

“I have another meeting with a player today, so there may be another one in a week or so. Then I imagine a lot of my business will be done in the last two weeks in June.”

The manager also confirmed that the key areas he wants to strengthen are the midfield and up front.

He said: “I think we need a couple of strikers in who play off the shoulder and are capable of scoring 20 goals each. I am looking at bringing wide players in some creativity in the middle of the park.

“It is really the midfield and striking areas I am looking at, and I will maybe look to bring in another centre half.

“It is important to get the right balance of players; you need the experienced players, but I want to make a few signings around 21-24 that have experienced the Conference and done well in the Conference, and want to come to us for the right reasons.”

Darrell believes he will have a competitive budget for the league: “I will have the support and we will have a competitive budget.

“It is not all about budgets for me, it is about how you manage and how you coach on the training pitch and getting the right players in.”

And the club have turned down a bid from a Premier League club for a young pro.

Darrell said: “We have turned a bid down from a Premier League club for one of our younger players.

“I will fight tooth and nail to keep the players I want to keep at the football club – I don’t think we can afford to lose certain players.”